How to use the Advanced Search in Outlook?

After you activate the Search Tools in Outlook 2010 and 2013, you can search items directly by attachments, subjects, categories, flags, etc. However, some things always go out of control and you cannot do it easily, such as searching messages between two dates, etc. Actually the Advanced Find feature can help you custom your search criteria and make your special searching easily.

First of all, open the Advanced Find dialog box

• In Outlook 2007, you can open the Advanced Find dialog box by clicking the Tools > Instant Search > Advanced Find.
• In Outlook 2010 and 2013, the following steps will walk you through opening the Advanced Find dialog box:

Step 1: Put the cursor at the Search box to activate the Search Tools.

Step 2: Go to the Options group on the Search tab, and click the Search Tools > Advanced Find.

Add Search criteria to narrow your search results

In the Advanced Find dialog box, go to the Messages tab, and enter corresponding search criteria in each field, and then click the Find Now button.

Please note that the more search criteria you entered, the less and accurate result of messages it will find out.

Customize search criteria and make special searching

The Advanced Find feature allows you to define search criteria, and helps you search messages with special factors. Here we will walk you through it with the example of searching messages between two dates.

Step 1: Go to the Advanced tab in the Advanced Find dialog box.

Step 2: Click the Field > Date/Time Fields > Received. See the following screen shot:

Step 3: Click the Conditior box, and select the between from the drop down list. See the following screen shot:

Step 4: Enter two dates in the Value box, and then click the Add to List button.

Please note the two dates should be in the format of <Value 1> and <Value 2>, such as 11/20/2013 and 12/30/2013.

After you click the Add to list button, the customized search criteria will be added to the Find items that math these box immediately.

Step 4: Click the Browse button to specify the folder in which you will search for messages.

Please note that the Search subfolders option is unchecked by default in the Select Folders dialog box. If necessary, please check this option.

Step 5: Select the customized search criteria in the Find items that match these box, and then click the Find Now button.

Then the searching results will be listed at the bottom of this Advanced Find dialog box in a minute.